Meet the Team

We are four. Three engineers and a dog.

The engineers built the gear that takes your rooftop tent off your rack faster than you used to be able to take a sandwich out of the cooler. The dog was the loudest opinion in the office for seventeen years and is the reason the website still says "Explorer Enforcer" under his name. He passed in 2024. We left him in the lineup because firing him would have been awkward.

If you write us at sales@starksidegear.com on a Saturday, one of these humans actually replies. Buena Vista, Colorado.

Trevor Stark — Founder

Trevor is the self-proclaimed leader of the Stark Side Gear nerds and has spent more time in college than Van Wilder. (Two engineering degrees and an MBA, which his wife correctly notes was avoidance.) He spent more than a decade in product development and manufacturing across aerospace and automotive. Before that he spent most of his weekends on two wheels, which is how he discovered Western state parks and, eventually, the inside of an emergency room after a motocross track decided his back was negotiable.

He claims to be a spring chicken. The receipts say otherwise. Some say his prime has come and gone, just like his hair. He is still the one in the parking lot at 6am proving the install really does take three minutes.

Ana Stark — Co-Founder

Ana is the open-minded "let's try it" half of this operation. If you cannot find her at her desk, check the nearest body of water (toes minimum, full submersion likely) or the closest Chinese restaurant (dumplings, chow mein, both). She and Trevor met in manufacturing class, where they discovered the only way to spend a weekend was outside.

Industrial engineering background, with stops in aerospace and distribution before Stark Side Gear. Her management style is two thumbs up, sent in real time, in earnest. If something is not going well, she takes the time to make it well. She will eventually ask "We're having fun, right?" and your answer had better be "yes."

James Edwards — Engineer II

James grew up in Southern California, picked up an associate degree in mathematics, and used to ride dirt bikes in the desert because nobody told him not to. Through what we can only describe as poor planning, he now lives in Illinois, where he is happily married and considerably colder.

His past lives include drafting and design with Hummingbird Aero on helicopter parts (the parts that hold helicopters together: important parts). In his spare time he develops computer games and waits patiently for someone to finally build a real walking robot. James will get nerdy about space, jets, or large mechanical things if you let him. We let him.

Cookie — Explorer Enforcer

Cookie was the one who reminded us to shut the laptop and go outside. To take the car ride. To take the new hike. He was happiest in camp, and at seventeen years old not much got his tail wagging anymore. But you should have seen him on an adventure.

R.I.P. 11/8/24 You'll be forever missed!

Trevor Stark, Founder

Founder

Trevor Stark

Trevor is the self-proclaimed leader of the Stark Side Gear nerds and has spent more time in college than Van Wilder. He has always enjoyed the rumble of a motor between his legs and thus has explored many of the Western States on two wheels. His lust for adrenaline slowed from a Spring’s snowmelt river to Fall’s trickling creek after he crashed and broke his back at a motorcross track. Some say his prime has come and gone, just like his hair, but he still thinks that he is spring chicken. He has worked in product development and manufacturing within the aerospace and automotive industries for more than a decade. He always discovers ways to release the adventurous spirit within his friends and family.

Ana Stark, Co-Founder

Co-Founder

Ana Stark

Ana has the open-minded “let’s try it” attitude. You’ll likely find her near a body of water and 90% of the times in it (at least her toes). If she’s not there she’s probably at your local Chinese restaurant stuffing down dumplings or chow mein. Trevor and Ana met in manufacturing class, over time they realized they both shared values in their love and appreciation for the outdoors and the benefits of exploration. Ana values continuous improvement and sustainability in her industrial engineering career and has held various roles within aerospace and distribution. You’ll often catch her checking in on her team like this: 👍 👍. If things aren’t well, she will take the time to make them well. “We’re having fun, right?” she’ll ask, and your answer better be “yes”.

James Edwards, Engineer II

Engineer II

James Edwards

James was born and raised in Southern California, where he got his associate degree in mathematics and enjoyed dirt bike riding out in the desert. Through the roller coaster of life, he now lives in the (much more frigid) state of Illinois and is happily married. His past experience includes drafting and design work with Hummingbird Aero, where he contributed to the designs of helicopter parts. In his free time, James enjoys work on personal computer game projects, and hopes to someday publish his own games out into the wild. He is a big nerd when it comes to anything related to space, jets, big walking robots. 

Cookie, Explorer Enforcer

Explorer Enforcer

Cookie

Cookie, the one who reminds us to take a break and go outside. To go on a car ride and explore. To take the hike someplace new. He is the happiest out camping, at 17 years old, not much gets his tail up and wagging anymore but boy you should see him out on an adventure.

R.I.P. 11/8/24 You'll be forever missed!